Man who received 47-year-old’s face asked unusual question about terrifying accident after waking up from three-month coma
Jen Thomas
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@joeroydimeo/TikTok/@joedimeo
A man who was in a three-month coma and had to undergo a major face transplant has opened up about the first thing he asked when he finally came round.
Back in 2018, Joe DiMeo was involved in a horrific car crash when he fell asleep at the wheel of his Dodge Charger while driving home from a night shift.
Just 18 years old at the time of the crash, he suffered burns to over 80 percent of his body and went on to receive a face and double hand transplant in a history-making surgery.
Joe, who is now 26, received the face of a 47-year-old donor as part of the groundbreaking surgery which came with many risks and took a staggering 23 hours to complete.
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An avid car fan, Joe has been documenting his recovery on social media in the years since the devastating accident, and has been answering questions from viewers on his TikTok account.
Someone asked Joe about what is was like being in a coma, querying: "How did you feel and react when you first woke up from the coma?".
In response, Joe admitted that his first thoughts when he finally came around were not exactly what you might expect.
Joe replied saying: "Thank you for your question. So after I woke up from the coma, the first thing I asked was, I asked my mom how the rims on my car were."
"I didn't really feel anything, the nurses and doctors took care of me pretty well," he explained. "All I had was some itchiness so I was pretty lucky in that aspect."
TikTok users rushed to the comment section to respond to his answer.
"Your rims!" laughed one, continuing: "That's great. I'm so glad you're OK, you're a warrior."
"Rims on my car, I love it. Your poor momma," sympathised another.
"Typical guy asking about his car!" joked one fan.
"Your rims! A true car guy," praised someone else in the comments.
Joe also recalled how he felt he experienced the 'afterlife' during his recovery and recalls memories of walking his dog, who had passed away.
He told PEOPLE that unfortunately the painless experience he had upon waking didn't last: "When they take you into the tank room — where they wash you off, take off all the bandages — that’s not fun. You can feel the pain. So you’re dreaming about pain."
He continued: "It sucks I got into the accident. I lost 80 percent of my skin, and I have someone else's face and hands on me."
However, one bright light in his recovery was meeting his now wife, who was training to be a nurse.
Joe said sweetly: "I also found my life partner, and if I wouldn't have had the accident, I'd probably still be a cocky 26-year-old.
"I would prefer not to be burned, but I like my life now, just because I have Jessica around."